A HIGH Valleyfield man who decided it would be better to grow his own cannabis than buy it from others has been put on a ‘tag’ for eight months.

Michael Haughian, 24, of Pentland Terrace, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 27 last year at his home he produced a controlled drug, namely cannabis.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said police had found 31 plants in Haughian’s home with a combined value of £3,038.

Defence solicitor James Moncrieff said: “He was introduced to cannabis by his friends and family members. He was advised that it would be better to grow his own rather than buy it from others.

“His intention was to smoke some of it and give some to others. He now feels like an idiot for getting involved and is no longer taking cannabis.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry said he took into account Haughian was a first offender but also that this offence involved a “huge number of plants” and the value would have been much higher when they had reached full maturity.

He imposed an eight-month restriction of liberty order.

The sheriff warned Haughian not to breach the order, saying: “If you come back before me I’m likely to revoke it and send you to prison.”